Managing Writing Time
I’m supposed to be writing nonstop this week and do so without editing. I haven’t found time to start.
My excuses? I really do have some. Yesterday was a granddaughter’s birthday and I made a big pot of chicken and dumplings, enough to serve at a soup kitchen. I never know how many I’ll have to feed. As it turned out there were only 8 adults and, 2 toddlers and 2 babies.
Of course, I had to bake a cake. Certainly not one from a box, it had to be from scratch. And then for those who didn’t want chocolate, I had to make the pie, from scratch. By the time they all left and I cleaned up the mess it was time for Desperate Housewives. I can’t help it, I’m hooked on them. And besides my cousin from Oregon called and we talked nearly an hour and then I told him I simply had to go to see the housewives and what sort of trouble they were getting into.
I got up early this morning and had to go through emails. Yep, had to talk to the Dell guy to get my son’s computer ordered and read all the mail. And I still haven’t finished this blog. But I did work on the stuff for my future web page that a friend is building for me. Shouldn’t this all be considered writing time?
As I sit here typing, I wonder how I should proceed with the novel. Which direction should my main character take? What danger can I lead her to? Should I let her get shot or step into a trap of the bad guys and see how she manages to escape? Really, I can’t do it all for Ellagrace. She needs to tell me what she wants to do.
Tell me how you manage to handle your writing time vs your family time. Maybe I can learn how to ignore my family and write!
Just before coming to this blog, I read another. The author interviewed had earned two degrees, worked as a free-lance musician, among other jobs, just finished three novels, had three more in the works...and then the blog stated that she is the mother of nine! Sorry-no way. I just don't believe it. On the jacket of my book, want the truth and nothing but the truth. "She did as well as she could, considering..."
ReplyDeleteI'm not at all certain how many novels and short stories are written by hermits. Last week I told a friend I would be writing one afternoon and he said, "Good. Since you won't be doing anything I'll call you then." J.K. Rowling wrote in teashops during her baby's naps. Most of us write whenever we can.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we write when we can. I wonder whether writers who seem to create despite overwhelming odds are writers who get it right first time. I've listened to at least two well-known authors say they write only one draft. I make several attempts before the story turns out the way I want and that takes time.
ReplyDeleteI know only one writer who, supposedly, writes only one draft and I have never heard her say that directly.
ReplyDeleteMaybe people who write multiple books can manage that but the successful writers I know take the time to revise. I sometimes read books that are subpar for the author and think the author failed to rewrite sufficiently maybe due to deadlines.
That's so funny, Warren, "since you won't be doing anything." So do you answer the phone while you're writing? I go through the same thing while doing bookkeeping for my husband. Everyone knows my schedule and when I'll be home "working," and yet they think I'll be free to talk with them, so I must not really be working.
ReplyDeleteFriends and neighbors who are really nice people otherwise don't just assume writers are available. When I worked nights, friends would say,okay so I can call you around three and you can let me know what you think about my new drapes. In the end I used to say, only if you don't mind me calling you at three in the morning to ask you which is the best hand santizer.
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